Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 06, 2017

I'm sure we all know or know of someone who has been diagnosed with a form of cancer at some point in their life. In some way or another we have been affected by this; whether it was a friend's friend, distant relative or immediate family, we understand that cancer is no laughing matter. It is a very serious, and growing disease that we struggle to collect enough research to be able to cure all.

My mom (left) and my sister (right) were both diagnosed with the same breast cancer 6 months from one another. They both had the same procedure, a lumpectomy, and radiation at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale. My family is very fortunate to say that they are both cancer free now. Unfortunately, not everyone can say the same.

This month is breast cancer awareness month and I'd like to divulge a very important issue among women. So what is breast cancer? I mean, we know that it's a disease of your boobs. But let's get serious here, what exactly is it really, and what are the important facts we should be aware of?

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women and 1 in 8 women in the US will get breast cancer in her lifetime. That is a startlingly high statistic! "Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade healthy cells in the body. Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body." Often the malignant tumors that form in the breast can spread through blood vessels to other areas in your body and attack other vital organs. (National Breast Cancer Foundation)

I know that we can't prevent cancer. But we can remain proactive about our health and be proactive about encouraging others to get educated and do the same! Check out more information and protect your health. http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-risk-factors

This month only to support Breast Cancer Awareness, we will be donating a percentage of our proceeds from our Plumping Peppermint to the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale. Support this cause today.